Adjustable propeller



Patented Ian. 10, I899.

. E. E. TRUSGOTT..

ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

[Ill] 5g 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. TRUSCOTT, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,373, dated January 10, 1899.

Application filed February 25,1898. Serial No. 671,571. (No model.)

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in propeller-wheels, and more particularly to that type wherein the blades are made adjustable and reversible, whereby the action of the same may be reversed or the pitch of the blades changed without reversing the driving mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a propeller-wheel of simple and economical construction and one that will be easy to operate and not likely to get out of order; and it is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the class described having a comparatively few number of parts and these so constructed and arranged that they may be readily assembled and taken apart when occasion may demand.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a hub having a plurality of propeller-blades journaled therein, eachblade being provided with two crank-arms, which lie upon opposite sides of the hub, and an operating device common to all the crank-arms of the blades, whereby they Will be operated simultaneously in order to give a more positive and even movement to the blades to enable'them to work with greater ease and freedom and without strain.

To these and other ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and then more definitely pointed out in the claims which conclude this specification.

In order to enable others skilled inthe art to make, construct, and operate my said invention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional end view transversely of the propeller-shaft, taken through the hub of a propeller-wheel constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line a; 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a perspective view of one of the blades, the operating-collar, and removable crank-arm, the parts being disconnected. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a modification in the manner of attaching the removable blades in position.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a propeller-shaft, the outer end being provided with a screwthread and tapped into the hub 2, as shown in Fig. 3, the shaft shouldering against the inside wall of the hub, thus making a very simple and effective coupling of these parts, and owing to the fact that the shaft is turned in one direction only said parts are not likely to become loose. The hub 2 is made hollow and provided with a transverse opening whichv extends entirely therethrough to provide a guideway or channel 2 upon each side, and it is further provided with an opening at its front end, through which the propeller-shaft and the operating-sleeve for the blades may pass.

The reference-numeral 3 designates the propeller-blades, of which there may be two or more, as desired, said blades being each provided with a shank 4, which is journaled in bearings 5 in the hub, the bearings extending entirely through and arranged about midway of the transverse opening in the hub. Projecting outward from and made integral with each blade is a crank-arm 6, provided with a slot 7, as shown, and the end of the shank 4 of each blade is provided with an angular boss 8, over which fits a removable cran k-arm 9, similar to the arm made integral with the blade, and the removable arm is provided with an angular opening 9 to fit over the boss 8, and also has a slot 10, for a purpose presently to appear. In practice it will be understood that the two arms of each blade lie parallel with each other and with the oppocollar 13 and its spindles 12 are located entirely in the opening in the hub and are free to move back and forth, as desired. The side channels 2 in the hub act as guideways for the spindles 12 and prevent these parts from binding in the slots 7 and 10 of the crankarms, thereby insuring an easy and free movement.

The blades are held in position within their bearin gs in the hub by means of headed screwbolts 15, as shown in Fig. 4, which are tapped into openings in the ends of the shanks 4, the opposite ends of the shanks terminating in shoulders 16, which abut against the sides of the hub, as will be seen. Instead of an opening in the end of the shank 4 I may employ a threaded boss 1, upon which a nut can be screwed, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, which will act equally as well as the headed bolt 15.

The manner of operating the blades to shift or reverse them will be readily understood. The collar 13 being arranged within the opening in the hub and secured to the operatingsleeve and the spindles 12, which project out through the side openings in the hub, made to engage the slots in the arms of the blades, it is simply necessary to move the said operating-sleeve forward or backward, as desired, and the position of the blades will be accordingly shifted or reversed with ease and simplicity.

3y reason of the blades each having two projecting crank-arms which extend from opposite ends of the blade-shank and by providing a single operating-collar with spindles which engage with the said arms a more even and positive pulling strain upon the bladeshanks is effected, and consequently an easier movement of these parts is had. Further, by makin one of the arms detachable in the manner specified the parts are easily assembled and readily disconnected for the purpose of repair and the like.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a propeller-wheel with reversible blades; but I believe the combination and arrangement of parts herein set forth to be novel.

Minor changes in the details of construction will readily suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic, and I do not therefore desire to be limited specifically to such details, and I hereby reserve the right to such equivalent constructions.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a propeller-shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a plurality of propeller-blades journaled in hearings in said hub, a pair of crank-arms extending outward from each blade, and an operating device for the blades common to all of said arms.

2. The combination with a propeller-shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, said hub being provided with a transverse opening, a plurality of propeller-blades journaled in said hub, a pair of crank-arms extending outward from each blade and each arm provided with a slot, an operating device, a collar fixed to said operating device and adapted to move in the open portion of the hub, and spindles carried by the collar and entering the slots in the arms, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a propeller-shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, said hub being provided with a transverse opening, a pair of oppositelydisposed propeller-blades journaled in the hub and each blade provided with a fixed and a removable crank-arm, each of said arms having a slot therein, an operating-sleeve sliding over thepropeller-shaft and entering the hub, a collar fixed to said sleeve and lying in the transverse opening in the hub, and a pair of oppositely-projecting spindles carried by the collar and each spindle entering the slots in two of the crank-arms.

4c. The combination with a propeller-shaft, a hollow hub secured to said shaft, said hub having a transverse opening therethrough, a pair of propeller-blades journaled upon opposite sides of said opening in the hub, each of said blades being provided with a circular shank having an angular boss at its end and a slotted crank-arm, a removable crank-arm having a slot and an angular opening therein, said angular opening being adapted to fit the said angular boss on each blade, an operatingsleeve sliding over the propeller-shaft and entering the hub, a collar fixed to said sleeve and lying in the opening in the hub, and a pair of oppositely-projecting spindles carried by the collar and each spindle entering the slots in two of the crank-arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. TRUSCO'P".

IVit'ncsses: FRANK L. PIXLEY, LoUIs S. SCHULZ. 

